Oxyhydrogen steam generator



Feb. 19; 1924. 1,483,917 7 E. E. TUCKER OXYHYDROGEN STEAM GENERATOR Filed April 17, 1922 Z'SheetS-Shet 1 ATTORN EY Feb. 19, 1924',

:5 E. TUCKER OXYHYDROGEN STEAM GENERATOR 7 Filed A ril. 17. 1922 2 Shee t's-Sheet 2 ENHR' I4 I'] 0 4 I I ATTORNEY .Petented eb 19, 1924-.

arm sr ERNEST E. TUCKER, or nEw-YoRKn. Y.

,OXYHYDROGEN STEAM GENERATOR.

Application filed April 17, 1922. Serial No. 553,828.

Z '0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ERNEST E. TUCKER, a citizen of the United States, and resident of New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Oxyhydrogen Steam- Generators, of which the.

following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

Thisjnvention relates to the utilization of the intense heat of the oxyhydrogen flame, or a flame resulting from burning a suitable combustible material, as hydrogen 'for example, and a suitable combustion supporting'medium, as oxygen for example, properly blended together, in the productlon of steam or other-vaporized liquld, and

consists essentially in an apparatus or means,

and method of practically using such a flame. for the described purpose, in a specially constructed boiler or generator.

The invention aims, therefore," as a chief object, to employ and apply one of the most powerful known sources of heat energy to make steam, and to provide practical means for doing this, a thing which has heretofore been considered impracticable owing to the great difliculty of controlling, directing and confining the oxyhydrogen flame in heating a liquid.

' The invention may further be described as consisting essentially in the injection of an oxyhydrogen flame, or the flame of some other suitable combustible material and suitable combustion supporting medium .properly blended, under pressureinto the combustion chamber of a generator, where it meets and operates upon water or other liquid to be vaporized, when the sameis in a finely-subdivided state, as spray or other atomized condition, the quantity of the injected flame being proportioned to the.

amount of the water or other liquid capable of being vaporized by the heat of combustion released for the purpose; or in the reverse operation of injecting an atomized liquid against an oxyhydrogen flame.

"Many obvious advantages will accrue from the use of such a method and means for vaporizing the water and producing steam. Some that I may mention will be the elimination of the common separate combustion chamber and its appurtenant features, through the consolidation of the water-containing and combustion spaces together, from the flame. of which an ininto a single unified structure in which the combustion area is greatly diminished in size; the absence, therefore, of large flues and tubular constructions and other expensive boiler absorption surfaces; the instant generation of steam or superheated steam in unlimited quantities at-- any desired temperature directly at the feed pipe of the I driven machinery or elsewhere; a perfect In the accompanying drawing illustrating my invention:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic plan'vlew of my improved oxyhydrogen steam generator. Figure 2 is a cross-section ofthe same on the line 2, 2, of Figure .1. 1

Figure 3 is anenlarged sectional detail of the main part of the oxyhydrogen blowpipe for producing the flame.

Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view similar to Figure 2 of a. modified form of the 1nvention. Y

Similar characters of reference desiguate like parts in all the different Figures of the drawing.

As stated, in order to instantly vaporize.

the liquid. to an exceedingly high temperature', I use a. combustible material and a combustion supporting medium properly blended tense heat is supplied which, quickly oonverts water into'steam. As. an example of combustible material I prefer hydrogen, which is a colorless, tasteless and inodorous gas, which burns in the air with a very palelue flame and an intense heat, the.- sole product of combustion being water, which is the protoxide of hydrogen. A mixture of two volumes of hydrogen and one of oxygen explodes violently when brought into contact with a flame or. the electric spark, 'AS an example of'combustion supporting medium I prefer oxygen, which 1s acolorless, odorless and tasteless. gas, some- 'what heavier than atmospheric air, and.

whichoombinesvery easily with most of the elements and forms oxides. The act of combustion is so energetic in many cases as to evolve light and heat, the phenomena of combustion. bus'tible material and combustion supporti-ng mediums ma obviously'be used, but these are believe to be the best, because they serve so effectually in the oxyhydrogen flame in the blowpipe, the principle and structure of which I employ in carrying my invention into practical use.

In a blowpipe a current of gas or air is driven through the flame of a lamp, candle or gas-jet, to direct the flame upon a substance, in order to fuse or otherwise affect it, an intense heat being created, by the rapid flow of oxygen and the concentration 1 of the flame upon a small area. In the oxyhydrogen or. com-pound blowpipe, oxygen and hydrogen, in the proportions neces- -sar for their combination, propelled by hy 'rostatic or other pressure, and coming from separate reservolrs, are made toform a united current in a capillary orifice at the moment, when they are kindled. The high degree of heat fuses or vaporizes many substances that are refractory at lower temperatures, consuming the diamond for ex ample, cutting steel and iron, etc. My purse is to thereby vaporize water or other j i d. I v lhe diagrammatic plan view of Figure 1 shows a form of boiler in which the oxyhydrogen flame-impinges on water (or water meets the flame) to'vaporize the same and produce steam, the water being in an atomized' condition, that is, being in the form of spray or small droplets. Essentially the boiler consists of a erforated shell, through the perforations of which the water is. forced under pressure into the interior of the shell, where it is met by the vaporizing flame that also enters the interior of the shell through the wall thereof at one or more points.- The perforations or a ertures arearranged radially around the s ell and directed toward the flame, and they are'so v proportioned that the exact amount of liquid capable ofbeing vaporized by the boat may be injected, andalso the gas entrance allows the exact amount of combustible material and combustion supporting medium for perfect combustion to be introduced. Hence I the heat-absorbing surface- -of the boiler instead of being a lar e metal surface is made up of the liqui to be vaporized which is in the form of a surface offinely-divided particles of water.

, rality of numerousv Y 18 denotes the boiler shell, having a plurforations 6 over its surface, as L as maybe found desirable, one end 18 of shell 18 bein preferably semiglobular or dome-shape at thecenter of which the blowpipe 1s seated. These: perfo- Other specimens of com-..

as i? rationsmay be arranged radially or ,fanwise asshown. The shell l-8'is located within'a water jacket or chamber. 7 having outer wall or casing 2, which chamber receives water under pressure through pipe 3. The water in chamber 7 is. forced through the needle holes or perforations 6 to form needle jets or fine sprays of water within shell 18, so that the water here will offer a heat-absorbing surface and willbe in an atomized or-tinely subdivided condition and ready ,to be attacked by the combustible as Shell 18 has a refractory or noncomlgustible lining 5,

which not only lin s the same, but extends as a cylinder 4 bey nd the shell, or if the shell itself has a cylindrical extension the lining may extend throughout the' latter, and said part 4 of the lining or of the shell proper is provided with churning spirals 8 to,.act on the water in rotating and mixing the same thoroughly with the products of combustion. Tl1e said combustible material and combustion supporting medium yield in combustion a water vapor, or a liquid the same .as' the liquid to be vaporized, so that it will blend perfectly with such vaporized liquid and will'thus assure the utilization of all the heat units of combustion, and hence as-it leaves nownon-liquefying residue it will heat, reaching .as far as the flame in case of an accident such as cutting off the water supply could reach with fusing efiect. The

surface act to throw the liquid to the cavity spiral ridges 8 or other irregularities of in broken masses, and also act so thatthe.

current of gas will be driven against the liquid with the same-efiect. I

1, 1, denote steel bottles, tanks, reservoirs or other containing'vessels for holding waten 'under pressure, one of said bottles having a Pipe 3 which runs there fromyto the water chamber 7 and delivers-water. thereto under pre ssure, so that it may pass through-the openings 6 in' small streams into the boiler shell 18/ A pump 10 is arranged in connection with a pipe line '11, which communicates with the two bottles or tanks 1, 1, and also a-pipe 9'leads" from the boiler to the pump so asto pick up and carry to the pump any unvaporizedi, "water in t The pump 10 may be connected with any suitable water supply, at the same time that it is connected. with the tanks 1, 1,-.o r otherwise, as preferred or found most practicable;

e generator.

but the chief: oint about thefiow-of the water or other iquid to the-generator is that be atomized or divided within the interior I of the boiler shell where the combustion is taking place. Pipes lead from the water tanks 1 to the gas tanks 12 and 13 so that water pressure may be used to force the-gas to the burner under pressure.

12, 12, denote hydrogen tanks or containers, and 13 an oxygen container. Tanks 12, 12, connect by a pipe 14 with the nozzle 19 just inside boiler shell 18, see Figure 3, and tank 13 connects by pipe 15 with the nozzle 20 just inside boiler shell 18,- the nozzles 19 and 20 being only-a short distance fromeach other so that the streams of oxygen and of hydrogen gas may commingle with each other at this point. An electrical ignition means is located adjacent to the nozzles 19' and 20 and includes the electrodes 22 and 23,

said electrode 22 being at the end of a Wire 16 carried in a tube 24, and said electrode 23 being at the end of a wire 17 carried in a tube 25, these carriers 24 and 25 being supported in a refractory wall 21 for the retention of heat at the'ignition point. Ubvi ously the wires 16 and 17 will connect with an ignition coil gnot shown). A spark will jump from the e ctrode points 22 and 23 at the proper timef'to ignite the gases, and the oxyhydrogen flame in its blowpipe action will be-directed against the water converting the same instantly into steam and liberating immense quantities of thermic, electric and chemie energy in contact with the particles of water. These poles that give the ignition spark are kept from fusing by being placed, as stated, one within the current of hydrogen or other combustible material, and the other within the current of oxygen or other combustion supporting medium, before these currents are blended and thus are kept cool by the currents, and the spark will cross the area of the blending to effect ignition. Instead of this ignition system others may be used, as for example a catalyzer which auto, matically causes ignition on contact."

, It may be remarked that the effect of the high degree/ of heat upon the water is not on y-to va orize the same, but pwing to the kind of fiiel which is a mixture of hydrogen and oxygen there vs ill be a blending together of the actual materials in a state of combustion. It is not a mere mix-- ing of the products of combustion with water in a steam generator, such a mixture as would be only temporary and would only mixwith but actually blend with the water of the generator, in which case the absorption of heat would be capable of being complete. I I

Iii-Figure 4 I show a modification'in the strufiture of the boiler, there being circular or curved ribs '30 formed in parallel series in the wall of the shell with the rows of perforations 6 betwen them. These ribs enlarge the space and give opportunity for the expansion of the steam, as well as the more extensive distribution of the water in the combustion space.

I shall expect hereafter to develop and apply for Letters Patent upon all ncedfu'l equipment in the form of many kinds of apparatus for taking care of a inultitide of mechanical'a'nd operating problems and to this end will devise and offer many forms of means for blending the gases; for, converting a liquid into the smallest practicable particles for exposure to the flame; forinjection of the ignited gases into contact with the atomized liquid in the most advantageous way for vaporizing; for suit able effective ignition means; for protecting all the parts of the mechanism from fusing in consequence of the extreme temperatures employed; for a unit regulation of the,

supply of each gas and liquid; for a pressure system which will cause each element to be under the) proper pressure for effective results, hyrostatic pressure or otherwise; for a systematic regulation of the whole.

The use of the described means and method for generating steam will be found a waterfall or other natural power intostored energy of this character, the saving n space and weight and labor, and in fine the simplicity of the process-at all points.

My invention is applicable to any form of engine; that is, in internal combustion engines, like gasoline engines, or in. connection with coal burning engines. In cases where it is desirable to produce steam immediately, as in fire engines, it has a large field, especially where steam is needed for shortperiods. In "onnect'i'on with coal burning furnace'sit I my be used as an acces- 'sory steam generator to operate the engines while steam is being raised or while a boiler is being repaired. The use of steam in aviation has many advocates, and a n eans' is hereby supplied to produce such steam with-v in the weight and space limitsvof aviation. Its use in 'generalrcomn' erce may be compared with tho development ofcheap methods of prodL sing the fuel.

I conceive also that in the development of this invention and dts application to manifold uses it may be necessary to provide for regulating the pressure the point. I expectalso to detect any sur system automaticallyat a given point and for varying plus gas or water and provide for automatic regulation of the same; also to employ pumping means acting; proportionately on the gas and Water; to employ means for adjusting the pressure when the gases are supplied in condensed form; for valve I means and'other devices for connecting and disconnecting the gas compression and Water tanks; to offer means for using suitable explosive action in further atomizing the liquid; toprovide manifold condensation means.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as dew and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. ,In a device for generatmg motive fluid, the combination with 'a' steam generator having means consisting-essentially of a perfoand a combustion supporting medium into rated shell for spraying water, of an oxyhydrogen olowpipe arranged to apply its heat to the sprayed water to vaporize the same, the product of combustion being water which commingles with the vaporized water.

2. In an apparatus for the generation of motive fluid by injecting a'combustible fluidr contact with a liquid to be vaporized, a comsorbing surface.

bined combustionchamber and steam spaces having plerfor'ations through which the liquid to 'e vaporized enters the combustion space,

3. In an apparatus for the generation of motive fluid by injecting a liquid to be contact with aliquid to be vaporized, a shell having perforations through which the liquidto be vaporized "enters thecombustion space, a liquid chamber surrounding said shell, an oxyhydrogen blowpipe in one end of the'shell, all arranged sothat the finely divided particles of liquid passing through the perforations in the sLellmay be brought into contact with the oxyhydrogen flame.

5. A method to' roduce'steam or super-. heated steam or ot er vapor instantaneous ly, and utilizing the cliemical and electrical ener of combustion to force a rapid ab-. sorption of heat,.which.consists first vapore izing the streamof liquid and then in in ecting a combination of combustible fluid and combustion supporting" medium in a state of combustion against the aforesaid stream of liquid which is bein vaporized while the same isin an atomized state so as to cause the liberation of thermic electric and chemic nsane energy in intimate contact. with the finely divided particles of the liquid to be'vaporized.

6. In an apparatus for generating motive fluid bymeans of a flame driven against streams of finely divided particles 0f the liquid to be vaporized, a generator shell having an arrangement of inlets "for such liquid whereby the streams entering will be sprayed fanwise and automatically separated into small particles 'proportionatelyto the forceintroducing the water'and flame;

7 In an apparatus for generating motive fluid by 'means of flame driven against streams of finely divided particles of tbc liquidto be vaporized, a generator shell ha ing. radial inlets for such liquid. ,which subdividethe entering streams radially- 8. In an apparatus for generating anu. tive fluid bymeans of flame driven against fanlike divided'streams of liquid to be? vaporized, a generator having an arrangement of inlets for such streams so that the finely divided particles will be exposed most effectively to the heat of combustion, said inlets being in parallel longitudinal rows and arranged radially around and directed to-' wards the flame.

9. Inan apparatus for generating motive fluid by means of flame driven againstifinely divided streams of liquidto be vaporized a generator having an aperture for the i'nje'c-- tion of a combustible fluid and acombustion supporting medium, siich that the flame thereof Will be directed toward the convergence of the streams of liquid to be vaporized, v said generator having also radial apertures? for introducing the streams readily toward the axis of the generator. i

10. In an apparatus for generatingmotive fluid by means of the injection of liquid to be vaporized, together with a combustible liquid anda combustion supporting medium,

'avgenerator shell having apertures so pro:

portioned in size that'the exact amount of." combustible material and combustion supportingmedium for perfect combustion and the exact amount of liquid capable of being vaporized by .the heat so developed may be. injected.

11. In an apparatusfor generating motive fluid, the combination" with a perforated combustion chamberand ox'yhydrogeri flame producing means, all arranged so that the relatively, small combustion chamber has a perforated surface which will have the func-' tion" of finely subdividing particles ofliquid in order that they may have the-function of. an absorbing, surface;and a device for increasing the absorbing surface of, any residue f such liquid. not ,at first vaporized and sinking to the-bottom of the generator, and driven along by the current of gases, consisting of spiral ridges or other irregularities of surface whose actionwill be tothrow such liquid to the cavity of the generator in broken masses, and such: that the current of gases will be driven against the liquid with the same effect.

K 12. In an apparatus for generating motive fluid by injecting in combination .a liquid to be vaporized, a combustible material and a. combustion supporting medium, said combustible material and combustion supporting medium on combustion yielding the same substance as the liquid to be vaporized, a relatively small combustion space and a liquid chamber surrounding the said space.

13. In an apparatus for generating motive fluid by the injection in contact with a stream of liquid to be vaporized of a stream of combustible material and combustion supporting medium in state of combustion, which burns at high temperature, a system of ignition consist-ing of an electric spark from poles which are kept from fusingby being placed one Within the current of combustible material and the other within the current of combustion supporting medium' before these are blended, so kept cool by the currents; and so that the spark Will cross the area of the blending to effect ignition.

1 4. In an apparatus for generating motive fluid by the injection againsta stream of volatile liquid of a stream 'of-bufning material thatlburnsat intense heat, nozzles for the apertures, liquid 'channels, and a lining for the generator of material capable of're- 'sistin'g the intense heat, said lining reaching as far as the flame.

15. In an apparatus for generating motive fluid by injecting'againsta stream of volatile liquid a stream of burning material that 16. In an apparatus for generating motive fluid in which combustion chamber and gencrating chamber are combined in one,'means for in ecting volatile liquid, combustible niaterial and combustion supportingmedium' in combination, vand a device for producing the required pressure-for such injection consisting of;a pipe leading from thegenerating' chamber to a pump for supplying the added pressure, and supplied with means by which, the speedi-Qofthe injection may be regulated.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature. v

' ERNEST E TUCKER. 

